Whenever I have to explain what a Foyer is to English people I seem to use a different translation, but none ever seems to be apt. I've described it as a sort of student halls (probably the best attempt), a dormitory, and a boarding house (which makes it sound like a Victorian jail).
Basically, it's a building with about sixty students divided into floors of about ten to twelve. Some girls share rooms, others have one all to themselves. Each floor has a shared kitchen, shared showers, shared toilets, etc. It usually has a religious focus, or is attached to a religious group. Mine is Catholic, but the majority of the girls, including me, are not Catholics, and there's never any discrimination, bias, or attempts at conversion, thank goodness! I don't think anyone wants to have someone try and convert them over their coffee and toast in the morning.
My university hasn't got any halls, and my other options were getting a flat on my own or with people from uni. I know that I'd hate living alone, and no way was I organised enough to sort out a flat, especially one overseas. So a Foyer was my only option...not to mention the cheapest.
When I told my friends back home that this is where I'd chosen to live, there were mixed reactions- mostly horror, to be honest! Everyone, including me, to be honest, had visions of nuns and 10pm curfews. It seemed as far away from the 'British university experience' as you can get.
In actual fact, I think it's the closest thing that you can get to the British university experience when you're living abroad, and by British university experience, I mean getting to meet tons of different people doing totally different subjects to you, bonding over silly amounts of pasta, and going out together. I've ended up with friends both from France and places all over the world.
Ridiculous things have happened, including a certain person accidentally setting fire to a bag of popcorn in the microwave and causing mass panic (shoutout to my gal Salma) and somebody else locking themselves out of their room at 1am and having to do some seriously impressive stuff with a potato masher to get it open (Clara, I'm still impressed and sorry that I was useless). This is Foyer life!
Most of the time, however, our Foyer is a disaster free zone, although admittedly the limescale in the kettle is getting to a toxic level. We have a library, a launderette (by that, I mean a washing machine, a dryer and loads of clothes horses in an underground cave) and a lovely lady who comes and cleans our kitchen and bathroom. I don't think I'll have this at any other stage in my life!
Of course, there are always downsides. I have approximately half a shelf in the fridge, and sometimes the WiFi just stops working for NO REASON and the whole Foyer doesn't know what to do with itself. People come wandering into the kitchen looking lost and confused.
In short, life in a studio flat can suit people perfectly, and I can completely see why. But living in a Foyer is totally my thing. It's great to get home to a kitchen full of people or a movie night. It sounds cheesy but it really does feel more like a family, something that's very important to me as I don't go home that often. Plus, my French has definitely improved, one of the main reasons that I chose a Foyer in the first place. Living alongside French people, you definitely pick up things without realising...even if it is colloquial insults. Thanks a lot, people!
I'm staying on next year, and I think I'm going to ask for a shared room again. It is a little sad because most of my group are going back to uni in their countries or are going to do university exchanges and go abroad. Some are staying, though, and knowing the amazing people I've met this year makes me excited for next.
It's highly unlikely that future first years are reading this, but if by any chance you are, check out some Foyers. They're great.
K x
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